Seagull Bait and Tackle Fishing Report

Trophy Size Tuna & Wahoo In The Gulf Stream

SFTC Press — Wed, 24 May 2006 13:57:01 +0000

It’s time for Spanish Mackerel and I’m here to tell you there are plenty out there. The piers are getting their share of Spanish. The size is still a little small. The biggest I have heard of was around one and a half pounds. Five to ten miles out there are plenty of mid-size King Mackerel around the fifteen-pound range. On the bottom, Black Bass and Snapper are really starting to bite. If you run to the Gulf Stream, well, that’s another story. Plenty of Tuna and Wahoo and some are trophy size. The surf has been producing some big Blue Fish up to the six and seven pound range with a lot of little ones being caught as well. There are still a few Whiting around being caught mainly on sand fleas. Black Drum are still feeding on sand fleas and shrimp. Both piers on the Island are catching some Black Drum and Whiting. The river seems to be full of small Croaker. If you can find an area were the Croakers are not plentiful, then there are probably some nice Puppy Drum to be caught. Flounder are around and I have heard of some four and five pound catches but no reports of really good catches. There is plenty of bait in the water but they seem to be a little behind last years’ numbers. That’s going to improve. Keep trying new spots and use fresh bait. Keep fishin and releasin! Steve and Karen Labanec Seagull Bait and Tackle

Mike Rhein caught this Spanish Mackerel 5.25 lbs 25.25” 5/20/06 fishing the jetty using a pogie on a kite. Photo from B&B Bait and Tackle; Carolina Beach.

John Milligan Jr. with a citation grouper 22 lbs 35” 5/13/06. Photo from B&B Bait and Tackle; Carolina Beach.

Lots of Snapper

SFTC Press — Wed, 17 May 2006 13:53:28 +0000

Fishing continues to improve daily offshore, inshore and near shore. Offshore, there is a lot of Tuna and Wahoo. All are thirty miles out or better. A little closer to shore there are plenty of King Mackerel. No trophies, but plenty of snakes all around the ten to fifteen mile mark. Bottom fishing has been rather good with lots of Snapper and a few nice Grouper. Close to the hill, I am starting to hear a lot about Spanish Mackerel. No giants, but if you can get out there, there are plenty of small ones. Both piers are catching Blue Fish on a regular basis along with some small Spanish and Black Drum. I’m sure there are still some Whiting around. The surf has been producing some big Blue Fish. We have heard of some real nice ones upwards of five pounds and there are still plenty of Pompano. There was a run of some big Black drum last week in the five pound + range. In the river, there are plenty of Puppy Drum in the range of size from legal all the way to twenty pounds. We still hear there is plenty of whiting down near Bald Head Island and some Trout scattered up and down the river. Flounder still remain a little small but that will change shortly. Keep fishin and releasin! Steve and Karen Labanec Seagull Bait and Tackle

John Tesh and Tom Altieri caught three tuna at 36, 38 & 40 lbs. fishing about 40 miles out.

Black Drum All Through Snow’s Cut Area

SFTC Press — Wed, 10 May 2006 13:47:28 +0000

Another wet weekend but there were still a few fish caught and some were just right. The offshore report was a little slow due to a stiff wind. Near shore, a few brave souls did manage to catch a few Spanish Mackerel. They were not real big but it’s a good sign. The piers have been catching their fair share of fish. Lots of Whiting and some Black Drum along with a few Blues. On occasion we hear about one or two Spanish Mackerel being caught. Surf fishing is pretty good right now. Pompano have finally showed up and some have been weighed in the two-pound range. One of this weeks pictures shows a catch that weighed two and three quarter pounds. People are also catching some Blues and a few Black Drum and of course there is always some Whiting around. Back in the river, well, there is plenty of Black Drum all through the Snow’s Cut area. Down the river people are catching some bigger Black Drum and plenty of Whiting. Also, if you catch the tide right, there are still lots of Grey Trout for the taking. Flounder? I’m hearing about a lot of small ones and the occasional twenty-inch catch. Keep fishin and releasin! Steve and Karen Labanec Seagull Bait and Tackle

Tim’s first Flounder of the year at 7.25 pounds caught on April 30, 2006.

Mike Rigsbey caught this two and three quarter pound Pompano on May 8, 2006.

The First Big Flounder Of The Year

SFTC Press — Wed, 03 May 2006 13:43:24 +0000

Well it’s happened, the first big Flounder of the year has been caught and she was a nice one. Saturday in the Snow’s Cut on a piece of Shrimp and a #6 long shank hook, a seven and a quarter pound flat fish met his fate. I would love to show him to you but the gentleman would like to remain in the shadows. (No it was not Harry G.) There was also a lot of small Black Drum in the cut. In the river around Bald Head Island and the other islands in that area, a lot of decent Whiting are also feeding on shrimp on a falling tide. The surf fishing is not bad. There have been some Whiting and Pompano, a few Black Drum and even a Bluefish or two being caught on shrimp and some mullet. In between the howling winds surf fishing has been pretty decent. Both piers are having their share of luck as well. There have been lots of small Bluefish and Whiting and Forrest even told me he caught a small Spanish Mackerel last week. That’s a real good sign. All we need is a week of good weather to really fire things up. Offshore, well the weather has not been just right but the few that have dared to go out have caught some nice King Mackerel. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

John Blamy caught these Whiting on 4-17-2006 at 2 lbs 4 oz and 2 lbs 5 oz.

Jan and Johns’s cat Zoreo. A cat’s fantasy to have caught such a large fish.

Yellow Fin Tuna & Wahoo, Thick And Hungry

SFTC Press — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:39:51 +0000

We saw some nice fish this past weekend. Lots of things started to happen close to shore. Let’s start in the river down around Bald Head Island. We have been hearing about a regular flow of whiting feeding mainly on the falling tide. Also some nice Black Drum and even a few Puppy Drum. In Snow’s Cut, some Croaker, Puppy drum and a few small Flounder seem to be what’s happening these days. Both the river and yacht basin are holding plenty of Menhaden and just a few Mullet Minnows. In the surf, things are also improving. Many Whiting are being taken from the Kure Beach area and along with Whiting I am beginning to hear and see some small Pompano. Yes Pompano are showing up in decent numbers. No real big ones, just lots of small ones. The piers are doing pretty well with lots of Whiting and some small Blue Fish on bait day and night. The offshore boats are catching their share as well. Out near the Gulf Stream, Yellow Fin Tuna and Wahoo are stripping G/O reels like pelicans eat bait. They’re thick and hungry. Closer in, Boston Mackerel are feeding on Mara Jigs and Sting silvers and we are hearing about a few Grey Trout. We are still open and still for sale and would love to get your fishing picture in the paper. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

Brian, Sue, & Thunder caught Trout, Virginia Mullet, Black Drum on 4-16-2006.

Sophie and Paul caught these fish in the river on 4-23-2006.

Some Speckled Trout Around The Carolina Beach Inlet

SFTC Press — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:37:14 +0000

It’s finally here. Warm weather and some good fishing! Let’s start in the river down towards Bald Head Island. There are plenty of Whiting and some Puppy Drum in the waters. I have heard there were some Spots and Croakers also feeding in the same area. Up the river a little closer to home there have been a few Flounder taken but none were big enough to keep. Around the Carolina Beach Inlet people are catching some Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum and a few small Flounder. So far a big improvement from last week. Both piers are catching Whiting in good numbers along with a few Black Drum. In the surf, Whiting are feeding on shrimp and sand fleas and a few Pompano are showing up in the suds. They are still rather small but that will change real soon. Slightly off the beach they are catching some Trout and Boston Mackerel pretty regularly. A little further offshore at the twenty-mile range you can find some nice King Mackerel. If you’re ready for a Gulf Stream trip, well then you can count on catching some Tuna and Wahoo. On the bottom around the tower there is plenty of Black Sea Bass, some grunts and even a few Grouper. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

Kure Beach Pier Is HOT

SFTC Press — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:34:14 +0000

Fishing is getting better and for those who enjoy pier fishing, the Kure Beach Pier is hot right now. It may seem a little early but they’re catching plenty of Whiting and Blowfish. Yes, some are of good size and quantity is no problem. I have heard of people catching as many as forty. The surf is also improving. The people across the street from the tackle shop have caught two citation Whiting already. There are also some Black Drum and Puppy Drum down by the rocks on the south end. Things are definitely improving. There have been some Trout located lying up in the yacht basin. Some of which have also been of good size and below those Trout you’ll find some Flounder. We even heard there was a seventeen and eighteen inch fish caught. Black Drum are in the river - or should I say down the river. Whiting are becoming abundant. Affordable Charters is reporting some real good catches of Whiting. Another well known fisherman, Curt Nash, has passed away. Most remember Curt as the boyfriend of Martha - the manager of the Scotchman near Jubilee Park. He was a regular and mainly fished the open beach. He will be missed by all. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

Whiting Caught On Shrimp At The Kure Beach Pier

SFTC Press — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:27:48 +0000

There were a few fish caught this past weekend. Kure Beach Pier reported Whiting being caught on Shrimp. A few Blowfish also showed up from the pier and in the surf. The river is still producing some nice Whiting and a few Puppy Drum around the islands. The warmer it gets the better the fishing will be. Offshore, there is plenty of King Mackerel around the twenty-mile mark and bottom fishing remains quite good. You know all in all it has been a rather warm winter. Bait remains in the river with both Menhaden and Mullet in good numbers. We have some bad news. Another local fisherman by the name of “Biggin” has passed away. He was a long time steady customer of Seagull Bait and Tackle and a very close friend. He could often be found on the beach just about every night especially during Drum season. Nothing could keep him off the south end at night. Now he fishes night with big Phil. The state park might have put up a gate, but some of the best fishermen around are down there every night. To everyone in his family, all of us at Seagull and Karen and I will miss Biggin very much. He will never be forgotten. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

This guy weighed 86lbs 2 oz, was 69 inches long and had a girth of 28 inches. He was caught by John Tesh of 1115 Canal Drive on Friday, March 31st. John was fishing from the Ocean Annie II with its co-owners Tom and Russ Altieri. They were in the Gulf Stream

Speckled Trout In The Yacht Basin & Waterway

SFTC Press — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 13:25:20 +0000

I hope that all who tried to catch a fish last weekend did! It was not as warm as the prior weekend nor as calm but there were still some fish caught. The surf gave up a few Whiting and a couple of Puppy Drum. The waterway has been a little better producer in past weeks. There have been lots of Speckled Trout in the yacht basin and waterway. We have also heard of some nice Black Drum and Puppy Drum running in the same areas. Down the river we have heard there are some Whiting biting though we have not made a trip yet. It comes from a pretty reliable source so I expect to see a cooler full real soon. It blew a little hard to run very far offshore but if you catch a nice day and can make the run, the Yellow Fin Tuna are still out there. There should be some nice Black Bass on the twenty-mile rocks along with some Snapper. Well every day it gets warmer it’s a day closer to fishing season. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec

Tuna Are Feeding Hard!

SFTC Press — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:22:25 +0000

Now that was a nice weekend that just past and all that warm weather has definitely stirred those sleepy fish. There were several Black Drum caught around the Snow’s Cut area. Their size was still a little small running in the one-pound range. The puppy drums are a little large. In fact a lot of them have been of legal size. Many have come from the Yacht Basin area up to the Snow’s Cut area. Speckled Trout are still in the Yacht Basin being caught on live bait and artificials. Offshore, Yellow Fin Tuna are feeding hard. Any charter boat that ran had a real nice rack of some good eating. We have also heard about some King Mackerel around the twenty five mile point. We will be open weekends for the next week or two and probably reopen full time in the beginning of April - Unless? Then we will be on the water all of the time. So if you are interested in buying the bait and tackle shop, call Betsy McQuillen at Walker Realty, 910-458-3388. If you get a good catch then bring us a picture over the weekend. We’ve also heard some Shad have showed up around Lock and Dam #1. If you want to take a chance and run down the river you might find it quite worth the trip. I hear there are some nice Whiting down there. The falling tide seems to be the best. Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec 910-458-7135